Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by tobr 1361 days ago
Not sure why this is downvoted, I think it’s exactly right. A huge part of what makes music feel meaningful is the parasocial relationship with the artist, and the cultural context the music captures and expresses.
1 comments

That's... such a different way of relating to music!

Some of the most meaningful experiences I've had with music involved DJs whose names I didn't know, playing tracks produced by musicians whose names I didn't know and had no way to discover.

Didn’t say it’s the only way! But I think you would agree that most popular music is made by artists who have a very prominent public persona, expressed in different ways depending on the genre and subculture the music appeals to. As a fan you’re not just listening to the music as it is, but interpreted in terms of your thoughts and feelings about the artist. That context can make the music feel more meaningful.